Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], January 26 – England captain Jos Buttler made history by becoming the highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals against India. He achieved this milestone during the second T20I of the India-England series at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, surpassing West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran for the top spot, according to Wisden.
After losing the first match of the series in Kolkata by eight wickets, England was looking for a comeback in Chennai. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first. England’s innings got off to a rocky start, with Phil Salt dismissed in the first over, bringing Buttler to the crease.
The England skipper wasted no time in attacking the Indian bowlers, blasting 45 off 30 balls before being dismissed by Axar Patel. Buttler had scored a half-century in the previous game in Kolkata, showcasing his excellent form throughout the series. England posted 165/6, but it wasn’t enough as Tilak Varma’s unbeaten fifty guided India to victory.
In the process, Buttler became the first player to score over 600 runs against India in T20Is. His current tally stands at 611, surpassing Pooran’s 592, with Buttler reaching the milestone in four fewer matches than the West Indian batter.
Buttler joins an exclusive group of players who have scored over 500 T20I runs against India, including Glenn Maxwell (574), David Miller (524), and Aaron Finch (500). He is now the 13th player in T20I history to score over 600 runs against a single opponent. Virat Kohli (794 vs. Australia) and Babar Azam (880 vs. New Zealand) are the only two players to surpass 700 runs against one team.
Despite his historic achievement, Buttler remained focused on the positive aspects of the game. He expressed his satisfaction with the aggressive approach his team took, turning a moderate chase into an exciting contest, although England now faces a 2-0 deficit in the series.